Prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and pathogenic Leptospira spp. in rodents from outdoor farms in western Spain

Sixty-five rats (Rattus norvegicus) and 5 mice (Mus musculus) were trapped from 8 outdoor farms and the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli was not detected in any individual. Nevertheless, using the microscopic agglutination test, it was found that 20% (13/ 65) of rat serum samples were positive for anti-Leptospira antibodies, and DNA of pathogenic leptospires was detected in 3.07% (2/ 65) of the rat kidneys by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The most common infecting serovar was Castellonis (7.69%), followed by Canicola (6.15%) and Mangus (6.15%). According to these results, rats from outdoor farms may be considered a reservoir host for Leptospira in the study area.